Ultra-violet-ray electrode.



No. 763,183. PATENTBD JUNE 21, 1904.

ULTRA-VIOLET RAY BLBGTRODB.

APPLICATION PILED'APR. 25, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

/N VENTO/1 ATTORNEYS TH: Nunmg Pz'raas soworn-1.11pmA wAsHmsToN, n. c.

Patented .Tune 21, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

CHARLES F. W.l HORN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ULTRA-VIOLET-RAY ELECTRODE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,183, dated June 21,1904.

Application filed April 25, 1904.

T0 a/ ZZ whom t may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES F. YV. HORN,citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of New York,borough of Manhattan, inthe county and State of New York, have inventeda new and Improved Ultra-Violet- Ray Electrode, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to electrodes for the production of ultra-violetrays; and the principal object ,of the invention is the provision of anelectrode by means of which ultra-violet rays may be produced in largequantities and which may be conveniently employed in the application ofthe ultra-violet rays to the cure of disease. A v As is well known topersons skilled in the art to which the invention relates, theultraviolet rays of the spectrum have beeny successfullyemployed inrecent years in the treatment of a number of diseases, skin diseases inparticular having been treated with marked success in this manner. Theelectrodes ordinarily employed in the Aproduction of theultra-violetrays are bulbs of glass in which vacua of varying degreehave been produced. These electrodes are effective in the production `ofthe ultra-violet rays by the discharge vof high-potential charges ofstatic electricity within the bulbs; but as glass is almost whollyimpervious to ultra-violet rays the rays so produced within the bulbsare scarcely transmitted through the glass thereof at all, and thetherapeutic effects producible by means of ultraviolet rays aretherefore not obtained by the use of such electrodes. Other devices bymeans of which ultra-violet rays may be produced are the ordinary polesof a static electric machine or the poles of an induction coil ofsuihcient strength to produce a spark or brush of considerable length.Neither of these devices, however, is well adapted for the applicationof the ultra-violet rays to therapeutic uses, as neither can beconveniently manipulatedu nor can a sufficient quantity of theultra-violet rays be readily obtainedtherefrom. To overcome the defectsof the various devices heretofore employed in the production ofultra-violet rays for therapeutic uses, I have invented the improvedSerial No. 204,696. (No model.)

electrode hereinafter fully described and having the novel featuresthereof particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that changes in the minor details of construction may be madein thestructure described without departing from the spirit of theinvention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a transverse sectional view through the electrode proper,the adjustable handle being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe electrode. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the electrode with thehandle detached. Fig. 4 is a detail view, chiey in section, showing theconnection of one of the binding-posts with one of the terminal studs orpins of the series in the electrode. Fig. 5 is a detail view inelevation, showing the preferred form of connection between theadjustable handle and the electrode; and Fig. 6 is a detail sectionalview showing the construction of a slightly-different form of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings by the reference characters marked thereon, 1designates a box or cup, preferably of circular contour, as shown, andconstructed of any suitable insulating material-such, for example, asvulcanite, gutta-percha, or indurated fiber. The cup l is preferablyprovided in the interior with a plurality of parallel partitions, eachof which is attached at one end to the wall of the cup, but has theother end thereof spaced from the wall of the cup, as shown. Thesepartitions are preferably arranged in two sets, the partitions in oneset being designated 2 and those in the other set being designated 3.The partitions 2 of one set are preferably three in number and extendfrom one side of the cup or box 1, while the partitions 3 are preferablytwo in number and extend from the opposite side of the cup l. As clearlyshown in Fig. 2, the two sets of partitions are arranged so that apartition of one set intervenes between any two partitions of the otherset, and the whole number of partitions define a tortuous or sinuouspath from one side of the cup 1 to the other.

IVithin the boxor cup 1 and following the tortuous path defined by thepartitions 2 and 3 I arrange a series of studs 4 of some suitableconducting material, preferably aluminium. These studs 4 are preferablyprovided at their tops with spherical heads 5 and are se cured in thebottom of the cup or box in any suitable manner. rIlhe studs 4 arespaced apart at short intervals, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2', andat each end of the series the terminal stud 4a has the stem thereofextended through the base or bottom of the cup and threaded to form ameans of attaching a binding-post, as will be hereinafter more fullyexplained. The studs 4 between the terminal studs 4 have the stemsthereof terminating iush with the under surface of the base of the cup1, and in order to protect the ends of the studs from contact with anyconducting substance I secure upon the bottom of the cup a plate 6 ofany suitable insulating material, such as vulcanite, gutta-percha, orthe like. The plate 6 is pierced by suitable openings for the passage ofthe threaded ends of the terminal studs 4u of the series, and thebinding-posts 7 are.

internally threaded to receive the projecting threaded ends of the saidterminal studs. The binding-posts 7 serve, therefore, as a means forsecuring the plate 6 upon the bottom of the cup or box 1, and the plate6 may be further secured by the use of any suitable cement between itand the cup and small screws 7, as shown in Fig. 3.

To make the electrode convenient to manipulate, it is necessary toprovide an adjustable handle, and to this end the plate 6 is preferablyformed with a central stud 8, which is longitudinally slotted to receivethe threaded shank 9 of a handle 10. The shank 9 is preferably curved,as shown in Fig. and it is secured in position in the slot of the stud 8by a transverse clamping-screw 11, which permits the handle to beadjusted in position when the screw is loosened and which clamps the twoportions of the stud 8 upon the shank of the handlevvhen the screw istightened.

It is desirable to employ in connection with the electrode as abovedescribed a cap which will cover the box or cup 1 and prevent contact ofthe studs 4 with any external body, but will not prevent the escape ofthe ultra-Violet rays from the cup. A cap which serves this doublepurpose is illustrated in the accompanylarge measure. When the cap isemployed upon the cup of the electrode, theheat generated therein by theproduction of the ultraviolet rays will be confined and may besufficient to interfere with the satisfactory use of the electrodeunless some means be provided to dissipate it. To provide for theremoval of the heat generated Within the cup, an outlet-opening 14 isformed in the wall of the cup at one side, and approximately oppositethereto a tube or nipple 15 is secured to provide means for attaching arubber tube through which carbonic-acid gas or air may be forced throughthe chamber Within the cup. The amount of air or carbonio-acid gasforced through the chamber of the cup lwill of course depend upon theamount ofvheatideveloped in the use of the invention, and `ifztheelectrode is used for a short period only the forcing of any currentthrough the chamber will be unnecessary.

In using the electrode above described I connect the binding-posts 7with the terminals of'a Ruhmkoriil coil of suitable size orWith theterminals of a static electric machine, and when the coil or staticmachine is set'in operation aidischarge of electricity is caused to passfrom one of the terminal studs within the cup orbox 1 through the entireseries ofl studs arrangedin the tortuous path defined bythe partitionsWithin the cup or box, giving rise to the formation of a large number ofsmall brushes between the several studs. Eachy of these brushes isaccompanied by a number of ultraviolet rays, and fromv all of thebrushes so produced a much larger quantity of ultraviolet rays isproduced'than byv any of the devices hitherto employed for theproduction of ultra-violet rays for therapeutic uses. Moreover, as allof the ultra-violet rays are produced within the small space inclosedWithin the cup or box 1 the application ofthe rays at any point isgreatly facilitated, as the operator is enabled to localize theapplication very exactly.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a form of the invention particularlyadapted for use with electric discharges of extremely high potential,which might with the form ofI the invention above described tend to formarcs-bridging the space between the binding-posts orto form arcs acrossfrom one of the studs in one row to the corresponding stud in theadjacent row. In Fig. 6 the casing or box, Which-is designated 20,isformed in much the same Way that it is in the form of the inventionfirst described; but the base thereof is considerably thicker and thesupplemental plate 6 is dis pensed with. In this form of the inventionstuds 21 are set in openings in the base, which do not extend entirelythrough, and the terminal studs are connected with the Wires bearing theelectric charges from the poles of the coil by means of plugs 22, ofgutta-perchaor the like, screwed into threaded sockets 23 in IOO IIO

IIS

the sides of the box or casing and having a central core 24 of somesuitable conducting material, such as aluminium. The core 24 of eachplug extends beyond the end of the plug, so that when the plug isscrewed into the socket provided therefor in the box or casing the endof the core will abut against the embedded end of the terminal stud. Atthe end of the metallic core 24 a binding-post 25 is formed, to whichthe wire bearing the charges of electricity is connected in the usualmanuel'. In this form of the invention the studs are made much shorterthan in the form first described, and consequently the distance throughwhich a spark would have to pass in leaping over one of the partitions26 in the box or casing is much greater than in the first form of theinvention described.

While I have illustrated the invention as embodied in an electrodehaving the series of studs forming the conductors arranged in a singletortuous path within the inclosing cup or box which forms the casing ofthe electrode, it is to be understood that other ar.

rangements of the studs may be made and similar results obtained. I donot, therefore, limit myself to this specific arrangement to theexclusion of all others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A device of the character specified, comprising aplurality of insulated conductors grouped in close order, and means forcompelling an electric discharge to pass through all of said conductorsconsecutively.

2. A device of the character specied, comprising a plurality ofinsulated conductors grouped tolerably close together, and means forcompelling 'an electric discharge to pass consecutively through all ofsaid conductors in a sinuous or tortuous path.

3. The combination in a device of the character specified, of a casinghaving therein a plurality of partitions extending partially across thechamber of the casing, and a series of insulated conductors arrangedwithin the casing between the partitions thereof.

4. The combination in a device of the character specified, of a casingof suitable material having a plurality of parallel partitions thereinextending partially across the chamber of the casing and defining atortuous path, and a series of insulated conductors arranged inthetortuous path within the chamber of the casing.

5. The combination in a device of the character specied, of a casing ofinsulating material, a plurality of studs of conducting material groupedwithin said casing, and means provided within the casing for causing anelectric discharge to pass through all of said studs consecutively.

6. The combination in a device of the character specified, of a casingof insulating material, a plurality of studs of conducting material setWithin said casing, two of said studs having prolongations at theexterior of the casing to form terminals for connection with an electriccircuit, and means within the casing forcausing an electric discharge topass consecutively through all of said studs.

7 The combination in a device of the character specified, of a casing ofinsulating material, a plurality of conductors grouped within the casingand insulated from each other, means for causing an electric dischargeto pass through all of said conductors consecutively, and a cap orcovering for said casing, comprising a plate of quartz over the top ofthe casing.

8. The combination in a device of the character specified, of a casing,a plurality of conductors grouped Within the casing and insulated fromeach other, two of said conductors being extended to the exterior of thecasing for connection with an electric circuit, means within the casingfor causing an electric discharge to'. pass consecutively through all ofsaid conductors, and an adjustable handle secured to said casing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. W. HORN.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. BRAUTH, MICHAEL ERLWEIN.

